Support



May 13, 1969 FIELDS ET AL 3,443,782

SUPPORT Filed Oct. 21, 1966 Sheet of 4 INVENTORS IRVING FIELDS ALVIN R.SCHNEIDERMAN BYWV 7 ATTORNEY HARRY ROBERT TIFFANY III May 13, 1969 FlELDs ET AL 3,443,782

SUPPORT Filed Oct. 21, 1966 Sheet 3 of 4 24' FIG.I4 22 FIG.

INVENTOR S IRVING FIELDS no HARRY ROBERT TIFFANYIE BY m J/M ATTORNEY ALVIN RscHNElDERMAb May 13, 1969 FIELDS ET AL 3,443,782

SUPPORT Filed Oct. 21, 1966 Sheet 4 of 4 FIGQIZ ya -I54 I56 INVENTORS mvmc FIELDS ALVIN ascnwemsamm HARRY ROBE TIFFANYJH mm m ATTORNEY x United States Patent W 3,443,782 SUPPORT Irving Fields, New Hyde Park, and Alvin R. Schneiderman, West Nyack, N.Y., and Harry R. Tiffany III, Riverside, Conn., assignors to Lehigh Furniture Corporation, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Oct. 21, 1966, Ser. No. 588,422 Int. Cl. F16m 11/20 U.S. Cl. 248188.7 33 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An apparatus and method for forming a m'ultileg furniture base wherein the legs are formed of wood and radially extend from a centrally disposed hub member. The hub member is secured thereto by a plurality of pairs of arms; one arm of each pair being adapted to be inserted within a bore formed in the leg, and the other arm of each pair being adapted to lie beneath the leg. The arms are in turn secured together by appropriate means, such as screws, so as to urge them towards each other to grip the leg portion disposed therebetween.

This invention relates to supports, and, more particularly, to supports having a plurality of wooden legs radiating from a vertically disposed column.

Plural leg supports, such as those commonly used as pedestals for tables or bases for chairs, are often formed with metal legs in order to provide the rigidity and strength required for the table or chair to be supported by such support, however, as est hetically pleasing as some metal legs may be they still cannot equal the esthetic beauty of a well formed natural wooden leg.

Existing supports utilizing a plurality of natural wood legs radiating from a vertical post, in many cases, present a cumbersome appearance since the wooden legs must be formed with bulky dimensions in order to provide the rigidity and strength required to support the article disposed thereon and/or whatever is to be carried by such article. In addition, some presently known methods and mechanisms for interconnecting a plurality of legs about a central hub are complex, costly, difficult to assemble, and quite often do not provide the rigidity required for a proper support.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an improved support.

It is a further object to provide an improved support having a plurality of wooden legs extending from a central hub.

A still further object is to provide an improved support hub adapted to receive and properly position a plurality of radially disposed wooden legs and a vertical post.

Another object is to provide an improved support hub which is relatively inexpensive to fabricate, simple to use, and which securely and rigidly receives and interconnects a plurality of wooden legs and a post to thus form a support for a chair, table, or the like.

Still another object is to provide an improved construction for a wooden leg adapting same to receive a rolling caster or a glide.

Still another object is to provide an improved wooden leg construction upon which either a rolling caster or a glide may be disposed proximate the extreme end of the leg without fracturing or otherwise damaging same.

This invention involves plural leg supports of the type used for chair bases, table bases, and the like, wherein a plurality of wooden legs extend radially from a centrally disposed vertical post or pedestal, and contemplates providing a tubular hub member adapted to carry leg mounting structure of -U-shaped configuration, with one leg of the -U adapted to be embedded within the leg in such 3,443,782 Patented May 13, 1969 a manner that the leg is securely gripped or even pinched between the legs of the U-shaped mounting structure.

In carrying out the invention, according to preferred embodiment thereof, the support is formed from a substantially square, vertically disposed, hollow, tubular, hub member, with a pair of spaced flat arms extending from each wall of the tube upon which a leg is to be mounted. The flat arms are formed as the arms of a substantially U-shaped leg support which is mounted on the hub with one of the flat arms extending from an aperture formed therein and the other arm extending out proximate the bottom edge of the hub. Each leg is formed with an aperture adapting same to fit over the arm which extends from the aperture in the hub and so that a bottom surface of the leg lies adjacent the lower arm of th U-shaped leg support member. Suitable apertures or holes are formed in both arms of the 'U-shaped leg support, and in the leg, to permit securing members, in the form of screws or bolts, to be threaded between the arms of the leg support to pull the arms towards each other and squeeze the wood of the leg t-herebetween; thus forming a secure support for the leg. In addition, there is disposed proximate the free end of the leg a flat plate recessed into the material of the wood, and having an aperture which is either threaded to receive the threaded shank of a glide member, or adapted to carry a tubular hearing which in turn will receive the pin of a rolling wheel or caster.

Other objects, features, and advantages of the invention in its details of construction and arrangement of parts, will be seen from the above, from the following description of the preferred embodiment when considered in conjunction with the drawings, and from the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a plural leg support embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the hub and leg attaching members of the support of FIG. 1, with the legs and casters removed to better show the details thereof;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view of the hub and leg attaching members of FIG. 2 with legs, a chair pintle, and a chair post shown in phantom;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along lines 44 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of one of the leg attaching members of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of a modified form of the s-uport of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a partial sectional view of one of the legs of the support of FIG. 1 showing the mounting structure for a caster therefor;

FIG. 8 is an elevational view of the caster mounting structure of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a plan view of the caster mounting structure of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of still another modified form of leg support of FIG. 1;

FIG. 11 is a partial sectional view of one of the legs of the support of FIG. 10 showing the mounting structure for a glide therefor;

FIG. 12 is a plan view of the plate of the glide mounting structure of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is an elevational view of the glide mounting structure of FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a partial sectional view of the support of FIG. 6; and

FIG. 15 shows still another modified form of the support of FIG. 1.

For convenience, the invention will be described as applied to a support of the type used as a base for a chair, table, or the like; it being understood nevertheless, that, without departing from the scope of this invention, that subject support may be utilized for any other item requiring a plural leg support such as a coat rack, display rack, or the like, and which are to be provided with a plurality of wooden legs radially projecting from a centrally disposed hub and which are adapted to have disposed thereon casters or glides.

With reference to FIG. 1 there is generally shown at a support of the type commonly used as a base for swivel chairs and the like and consisting of four wooden legs 22 radially extending from a hub member 24 (FIGS. 1 and 2) and mounting casters 26 (FIGS. 1 and 7). A bearing member 30 is received within hub 24 and, in turn, receives a post 34 carried by a swivel chair or the like An aperture (FIG. 3) of substantially rectangular configuration is formed in each wall 42 (FIGS. 2 and 4) of hub member 24, and is adapted to receive an upper arm (FIGS. 4 and S) of a substantially U-shaped leg attaching bracket 52. A lower arm 54, interconnected to upper arm 50 of bracket 52 by a cross-piece 56, is adapted for disposition adjacent a lower edge (FIG. 4) of hub 24.

A plug 64 (FIG. 4) in the form of either a hollow or solid cylindrical member may be inserted in a space 66 remaining within hub member 24 after U-shaped brackets 52 are disposed therein as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. In the alternative U-shaped brackets 52 may be tack welded together as at 68 (FIG. 3) or otherwise secured in place on hub 24.

A pair of apertures 72 (FIG. 5), formed in each upper arm 50 of brackets 52, and a pair of apertures 74, formed in each lower arm 54 of brackets 52, are: adapted to receive threaded securing members 76 (FIG. 4) in the form of bolts or screws. Apertures 72 may either be threaded, or securing members 76 formed with threads which will thread the apertures when members 76 are threaded therethrough. Another pair of apertures 78 (FIG. 5) are formed in each lower arm 54 to receive securing members 80 in the form of wood screws.

A longitudinal bore 86 (FIGS. 4 and 6) of appropriate configuration is formed in each leg 22 to receive upper arm 50 of U-shaped bracket 52, and a pair of transverse bores 88 (FIGS. 4 and 6) are formed in each leg 22 to receive threaded securing members 76.

To assemble leg members 22, U-shaped brackets 52, and hub 24, into a unitary support, one need only mount an appropriate number of U-shaped brackets 52 on hub 24 by inserting upper arms 50 thereof through apertures 40 of hub 24 so that lower arms 54 thereof rest against lower edge 60 of hub 24, and then secure same in place with either a plug 64, by tack welding as at 68, or by other suitable means. Legs 22 are then slipped in place so that upper arm 50, of bracket 52, is disposed within longitudinal bore 86 against the inner wall 90 (FIGS. 4 and 6) thereof and so that a lower surface 92 of leg 22 rests upon an upper surface 94 (FIG. 5) of lower arm 54 of bracket 52. Threaded securing members 76 are then threaded into place and tightened up so that a portion 96 of leg 22 between upper arm 50 and lower arm 54 of bracket 52 is squeezed therebetween. One or more screws 80 are then tapped into leg 22 as the final securing step for support 20.

If desired, a cap member 98 (FIG. 3) formed with an appropriate aperture to receive bearing member 30 may be placed over the top of hub member 24.

A toe plate (FIGS. 7 and 9) disposed in a shallow 112 (FIG. 7) of leg 22 and secured in place by a pair of wood screws 114 (FIG. 7), mounts a bearing 116 adapted for disposition in a bore 118 of leg 22 and is adapted to receive the pintle 120 of caster 26. A pair of apertures 124 (FIGS. 8 and 9) are formed in top plate 110 to facilitate the securing thereof to leg 22 by wood screws 114 (FIG. 7). The use of plate 110 and bearing 116 permits the disposition of caster 26 proximate an end 128 (FIG. 7) of leg 22 without pintle 120 of caster 26 breaking through end 128 as is commonly experienced in many existing supports for wooden legs.

Although hub 24 has been shown as a tube of substantially square cross section, it should be obvious that hub 24 may be in the form of a tubular member of rectangular, circular, triangular, or other convenient cross section or for that matter as a solid member. In addition, although hub 24 has been shown with only a short vertical rise it may be formed with any desired vertical rise to facilitate the use thereof as a support for an item of furniture such as a table (FIG. 10).

A pair of tubular hubs 142 of triangular corss section are vertically extended to form columns 144 upon which table top 146 of table 140 is supported. A pair of legs 22' extend from and are supported upon each hub 142; said legs 22 being secured thereto by appropriately formed bracket members, such as bracket members 52 of FIG. 5, and in the same manner, that legs 22 are secured to hub 24 in FIGS. 1 and 4.

A stretcher 150, spanning hubs 142, is secured thereto by the use of bracket members, such as bracket members 52, in the same manner that legs 22 and 22' are secured to bracket members 52.

A glide 152 (FIGS. 10 and 11), having a threaded shank 154 (FIG. 11) is threaded into a toe plate 156 (FIGS. 12 and 13) secured to the free end 128 of legs 22 by wood screws 158 (FIG. 11). Toe plate 156 is similar to toe plate 110 of FIG. 9 but formed with a threaded aperture 160 (FIG. 12) to receive shank 154 of glide 152.

It should be obvious that either casters 26 or glides 152 may be disposed on legs 22, 22'.

FIGS. 6 and 14 show a modified form of the leg attaching construction with FIGS. 1-5 utilizing hub 24 having formed in the walls thereof substantially square apertures 40' (FIG. 6) each adapted to receive an upper arm in the form of a hollow tubular member and which is secured thereto by welding as at 172, or by other suitable means. An inner end 174 of upper arm 170 extends through aperture 40' of hub 24 and into an aperture 176 (FIG. 6) of a vertically disposed portion (FIGS. 6 and 14) of a lower arm 180. The lower arms 180 are secured in place, as shown in FIG. 14, by disposing in a space 182 therebetween bearing member 30, or other suitable means such as a plug similar to plug 64 of FIG. 4. It is of course understood that arms 180 may be secured in place by welding or other suitable means.

An internally threaded T-nut 188 is disposed in each aperture 190 formed in upper arm 170.

With upper arm 170 and lower arm 180 in place on hub 24', legs 22 may be secured thereon by merely slipping same over upper arms 170 in such a manner as to place arms 170 within bores 86 of legs 22. Threaded securing means 194 are then inserted through apertures 196 formed in lower arms 180, through transverse bores 88 of legs 22, and into T-nuts 188 carried by upper arms 170. Threaded members 194 are then tightened up sufiiciently to effect a tight gripping or pinching of portions 96 of legs 22 disposed between upper arms 170 and lower arms 180.

In FIG. 15 a hub 24" is shown extending upwardly into a vertical column 210 upon which a table, such as table 140, a chair or any other item may be disposed. An upper arm 214, in the form of a solid cylindrical bar, with an inner end 216 thereof extending through an aperture appropriately formed in hub 24" is secured to the wall of hub 24" by welding as at 218, or by other suitable means. Inner end 216 of upper attaching arm 214 is also received in an aperture 220 formed in a vertically extending portion 224 of a lower arm 226.

When lower arms 226 are in place on inner ends 216 of upper arms 214 the assembly is completed by inserting a plug 64 of appropriate circular configuration in the space therebetween. Any other suitable means of securing may be used such as welding, etc., if desired.

With upper arms 214 and lower arms 216 properly secured the hub 24", legs 22" may be secured thereto by slipping upper arms 214 into bores 86" of legs 22" and by inserting lower arms 226 into a hollowed out portion 230 formed in a lower surface 92" of legs 22'. Threaded attaching members 234 may then be inserted through apertures appropriately formed in lower arms 226 and through bores in legs 22" to be secured to upper arms 214 by either threading same into tapped holes provided therein or into T-nuts which may be carried thereby. Threaded members 234 are then tightened up so that portions 96" of legs 22" between lower arms 226 and upper arms 214 are tightly gripped if not even pinched between upper arms 214 and lower arms 226.

From the above description, it will thus be seen that a novel and improved support has been provided for chairs, tables, and the like which permits the attachment of wooden legs to a centrally disposed hub in such a manner that the legs need not be bulky and may be inexpensively, easily and securely attached to the hub, and which further permits the disposition proximate the ends of the wooden legs of casters, rollers, or gliders without the stems thereof rupturing the ends of the wooden legs.

It is understood that although we have shown the preferred form of our invention, that various modifications may be made in the details thereof without departing from its scope.

We claim:

1. A support comprising:

(a) hub means;

(b) a plurality of leg means;

() leg attaching means;

(d) said leg attaching means being carried by and extending from said hub means and including at least a pair of arms for each of said leg means, each of said pair of arms being adapted to contain therebetween at least a portion of the leg means associated therewith and (e) securing means interconnecting each pair of said pairs of arms to urge same towards each other and securely contain therebetween said portion of said associated leg means.

2. The support of claim 1 wherein said hub means is ltubular.

3. The support of claim 2 wherein said tubular hub means has a substantially square cross-sectional configuration.

4. The support of claim 1 wherein said hub means extends upwards to form a vertically disposed post.

5. The support of claim 1, wherein said pairs of arms of each of said leg attaching means:

(a) extend radially from said hub means;

(b) are disposed with one of said arms positioned vertically above and spaced from another of said arms; and

(c) are formed so that said one of said arms and said other of said arms extend from said hub means substantially the same distance.

6. The support of claim 5, wherein each of said pairs of arms are interconnected by a cross-piece into a substantially U shaped configuration.

7. The support of claim 6 wherein:

(a) said hub means is tubular; and

(b) each of said cross-pieces are disposed within the hollow of said tubular hub means and in juxtaposition to a predetermined portion of an inner wall thereof, with said one arm extending outwardly through an aperture formed in the wall of said hub means and said other arm extending outwardly from beneath a lower edge of said tubular hub means.

8. The support of claim wherein:

(a) said hub means is tubular;

(b) said one arm, of each of said pairs of arms, extends outwardly from a predetermined portion of the wall of said tubular member and is secured thereto; and

(c) said other arm, of each of said pairs of arms, ex-

tends outwardly from beneath a bottom edge of said tubular member.

9. The support of claim 8 wherein said one arm, of

each of said pairs of arms, is secured to said tubular hub means by welding.

10. The support of claim 8 wherein said other arm, of each of said pairs of arms, includes a portion extending along the inner surface of said tubular hub means.

11. The support of claim 10 including plug means adapted to be inserted into the space remaining within said tubular hub means after said portions of said other arms are disposed therewithin to secure said portions therewithin.

12. The support of claim 10 wherein:

(a) said one arm, of each of said pairs of arms, also extends inwardly through an aperture formed in said tubular hub means; and

(b) said portion of said other arm, of each of said pairs of arms, includes an aperture formed therein in position to receive the inwardly extending portion of said one arm associated therewith.

13. The support of claim 10 wherein said one arm, of each of said pairs of arms, has a substantially square crosssectional configuration.

14. The support of claim 12 wherein:

(a) said one arm, of each of said pairs of arms, is in the form of a tubular member;

(b) said securing means includes a plurality of threaded members; and

(c) a plurality of threaded T-nuts are carried by each of said one arms for coaction with said threaded members.

15. The support of claim 10 wherein:

(a) said one arm, of each of said pairs of arms, is in the form of a solid rod;

(b) said securing means includes a plurality of threaded members; and

(c) a plurality of openings are formed in each of said one arms for coaction with said threaded members.

16. The support of claim 5 wherein:

(a) each of said plurality of leg means includes a leg member; and

(b) said one of said arms, of each of said pairs of arms, extends into a bore appropriately formed in the leg member associated therewith.

17. The support of claim 16 wherein said other of said arms, of each of said pairs of arms, extends along an outer surface of the leg member associated therewith.

18. The support of claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of leg means includes a substantially solid wooden leg member.

19. The support of claim 18 wherein:

(a) a plate is disposed proximate the free end of each of said leg members; and

(b) a tubular bearing member, adapted to journal the pintle of a caster, is carried by each of said plates extending therefrom into a bore appropriately formed in the leg member associated therewith.

20. The support of claim 18 wherein:

(a) a plate is disposed proximate the free end of each of said leg members; and

(b) a threaded aperture, adapted to receive the threaded shank of a glide, is formed in each of said plates in alignment with a bore appropriately formed in the leg member associated therewith.

21. The method of constructing a support comprising:

(a) forming a hub means of predetermined cross-sectional configuration and extending a predetermined longitudinal distance;

(b) radially extending from said hub means a plurality of pairs of spaced and aligned arms; and

(c) securing between each of said pairs of spaced and aligned arms a leg member by urging said pairs of spaced arms toward each other so as to grip therebetween a portion of a leg member.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein each arm of said pairs of arms extends the same radial distance from said hub means.

7 23. The method of claim 22 wherein: (a) one of said arms, of each of said pairs of arms,

extends from a wall of said hub means; and (b) the other of said arms, of each of said pairs of arms extends from an edge of said hub means.

of walls forming substantially planar inner and outer surfaces and normally disposed with the hollow thereof extending in a vertical direction so as to form upper and lower edges;

(b) a plurality of substantially U shaped leg attaching members each including an upper arm and a lower arm interconnected by a cross-piece;

(c) said leg attaching members each being formed from plate like material with said upper arm and lower arm substantially coextensive in length, with said upper arm formed of lesser width than said lower arm, and with said cross-piece formed to a width adapting same to be disposed within the hollow of said hub member;

(d) at least one aperture in said hub member for each leg attaching member;

longitudinal bore extending inwardly from a selected end thereof and at least one transverse bore extending inwardly from a selected surface thereof so as to intersect said longitudinal bore;

(i) each of said leg members being adapted for asso- 24. The method of claim 23 wherein: ciation with a selected leg attaching member by dis- (a) said one arm, of each of said pair of arms, and said posing the leg member with said selected surface other arm, of each of said pairs of arms, are interthereof in juxtaposition with the lower arm of said connected by a cross-piece into a substantially U- associated leg attaching member, and with said end shaped member; and 10 surface thereof in juxtaposition with an outer wall of (b) said cross piece lies adjacent a surface of the wall said hub member and so that the upper arm of said of said hub means. associated leg attaching member is disposed within 25. The method of claim 23 wherein: the longitudinal bore thereof;

(a) said hub means is formed of tubular stock; and (j) at least one threaded member for each leg attach- (b) said cross-piece, of each of said pairs of arms, mg member adapted to pass through the lower arm extends along an inner wall thereof with said one thereof in a position in alignment with the traverse arm extending radially through an aperture formed bore of a leg member when associated therewith, and therein and said other arm extending radially thereinto the upper arm thereof, to urge said upper and from proximate an edge thereof. lower arms towards each other and to securely grip 26 Th h d f l i 21 wh r in; the associated leg member therebetween.

(a) one of said pairs of spaced and aligned arms ex- 29. The furniture support of claim 28 wherein:

tends into a bore for-med in the leg member associ- (a) a centrally disposed space remains between said ated therewith; and cross-pieces of said leg attaching members when (b) the other, of said pairs of spaced and aligned they are disposed on saidhub member;

arms, extends along a surface of the leg member 25 (b) a tubular bearing inserted in said centrally disassociated h im, posed space, serves to secure said leg attaching mem- 27. The method of claim 26 wherein each of said leg bers in position and in addition as a journal for a members is formed of substantially solid wood. swivel chair support post.

28. Afurniture support comprising: 30. The furniture support of claim 28 wherein said (a) at least one tubular hub member having a plurality 30 walls of said hub member form a vertically extending post.

31. The furniture support of claim 30 wherein:

(a) a centrally disposed space remains between said cross-piece of said leg attaching members when they are disposed on said hub member; and

(b) a plug is inserted in said centrally disposed space so as to inhibit the movement of said leg attaching members when disposed on said hub member.

32. The furniture support of claim 30 wherein:

(a) there is at least one pair of hub members;

(b) each hub member has at least a pair of leg members secured thereto by leg attaching members; and

(c) a stretcher is disposed to span said pair of hub members and is secured to each hub member by a leg attaching member.

33. The furniture support of claim 28 wherein there is at least one wood screw passed through said lower arm members, of each of said leg attaching members, and into wood of the associated leg member to additionally secure said leg member thereto.

(e) each of said apertures being formed in a wall of said hub member between the upper and lower edges thereof so as to permit the upper arm of a selected one of said leg attaching members to extend radially therefrom with the cross-piece of said selected leg attaching member disposed adjacent an inner wall of said hub member and the lower arm of said References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS selected leg attaching member extending radially 860,574 7/ 1907 Schneider 248l88.7 from said hub member proximate the lower edge 7 9 9/1939 Brainard 248188.7 thereof;

(f) 'means securing said leg attaching members in posi- FOREIGN PATENTS tion on said hub member; 538,441 6/1955 Belglum- (g) a wooden leg member for each leg attaching member; (h) each of said leg members being formed with a ROY D. FRAZIER, Primary Examiner.

J. F. FOSS, Assistant Examiner. 

